Putin Doubled His Demands for Peace in Ukraine: What Exactly Does Moscow Want?

Meeting Between the President of Russia and US Representatives

According to ХВИЛЯ: During the meeting between the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and the special representatives of the US President, Donald Trump, Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the maximum heightened demands of Moscow regarding the cessation of the war in Ukraine were voiced. Putin outlined his conditions, which include demands for:

• the absence of NATO;
• the withdrawal of Russian troops from Donbas;
• abandoning defense;
• the neutrality of Ukraine.

It should be noted that prior to this meeting, which took place against the backdrop of increasing losses of Russian troops, the number of dead and wounded reached 961,970 as of May 8, 2021. Over the following months, by August 2021, this figure grew to 1,068,040. Currently, according to available data, Russian losses amount to 1,176,020.

Impact of Putin's Demands on Negotiations

Thus, the meeting between Putin and the American representatives underscored the aggravation of demands from Moscow, which may influence further negotiations regarding the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine.

This meeting took place in the context of increasing losses for Russia, which may indicate pressure on the Kremlin from military and political elites. Putin's demands for Ukraine's neutrality and the withdrawal of troops might be an attempt to shift the focus in negotiations in favor of Russia, although their implementation appears unlikely. Further events could determine not only the course of the conflict but also the relations between Russia and the USA, as well as affect the situation in the region as a whole.